OLD BRIDGE — The first of five Old Bridge teenagers tried in the fatal beating of an Old Bridge man two years ago, has decided to take his chances with a second jury and not plead guilty to reckless manslaughter.

Steven Contreras told a judge today in New Brunswick he wants another trial.

A jury could not decide on the reckless manslaughter charge last month in connection with the death of Divyendu Sinha, 49.

The jury convicted Contreras of aggravated assault, conspiracy and hindering apprehension and acquitted him of murder and aggravated manslaughter.

Contreras’ attorney, Hassen Abdellah, told Superior Court Judge Bradley Ferencz that his client rejected the plea offer from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office that if he pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and agreed to testify against his four co-defendants, the state would recommend he receive between three and five years in state prison on all charges.

The four co-defendants, Julian Daley, Christopher Conway, Cash Johnson and Christian Tinli, will be tried after the completion of Contreras’ second trial, now scheduled for Sept. 24.

Abdellah told the judge Contreras and his family did not want him to have a manslaughter conviction on his record and wanted probation, not a prison sentence.

Ferencz explained to Contreras that if a jury convicts him of reckless manslaughter, he faces up to 10 years in prison on that charge alone and could possibly receive additional prison time on his previous convictions, saying "it would not shock me if the jury came back differently the second time (than the first trial)."

Sinha was attacked June 25, 2010 as he was out for a walk with his wife and sons near his Fela Drive home. Four teenagers surrounded the family and began punching and kicking Sinha and his sons. Sinha died three days later. Contreras was charged with aiding and abetting by driving the four to the location and driving them away after the attack.